| Project by Chip | posted 957 days ago | 743 views | 1 time favorited | 24 comments | ![]() |
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To give everyone my progress report, here are the sketches for my rendition of the Thorsen table. They’re not as involved as SketchUp but will serve my purposes. I did it under “Projects” because I still don’t know how to enter pics under blogs (sorry) and noticed some SketchUp renditions done here so hoped it would be ok.
I looked over many Greene and Greene pieces in researching this piece and came to the conclusion (somewhat obvious I guess) that, as others have noted, their style has a heavy Asian influence. I also noted (also obvious) that the style is all about joinery. So my piece has several aspects to it that take these things into account:
Front and Sides: Heavy on showing joinery, some of it functional, some of it cosmetic (as in the apron fronts which I saw in a lamp of their design). The bottom shelf was influenced by there drawer pulls… tenons with dowel inserts. The legs will have some subtle carving at the bottom.
Top: Breadboard like the Thorsen table with an inlay motif taken from one of their stain glass windows. Not sure how detailed I’m going to make this… a lot will depend on time.
I’m not to worried about sticking to their wood choices… I kinda figure that’s an element that makes it specific to the woodworker, that’s my thought anyway. In my case I’m using (you guessed it) walnut… and maple.
Hope I didn’t stray to far from the original (height or anything else) as to make this an unacceptable entry but I have a client who might be more inclined to purchase this after the challenge at this height rather than the shorter version. Anyway, most of the boards have been rough cut and over the next few weeks I’ll be cutting mortises, shaping legs, doing apron tenons, etc and hopefully be ready by deadline (and that’s a really big hopefully).
Look forward to any comments, positive or negative. Thanks.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.































24 comments so far
Bill
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2561 posts in 1056 days
posted 957 days ago
Nice job Chip. I see that asian influence in your drawings. I am looking forward to seeing the table when it is complete.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7036 posts in 1194 days
posted 957 days ago
I like your design. It looks like it will be in the upper rankings, so Good Luck!!
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Chip
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1058 posts in 987 days
posted 957 days ago
Thanks Bill and Dick. Just trying to at least keep up with the rest of you in here which is quite a challenge in itself.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
MsDebbieP
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14158 posts in 1055 days
posted 957 days ago
who needs sketchup when you can present your vision so clearly without it!
First thing I noticed was the Asian feel to it. I am impressed with the research and the inclusion of your findings in this piece.
Re: wood .. 1) surprise!! Walnut and 2) someone commented earlier that the wood they used was based on availability and so any “available wood” should fit the bill, don’t you think?
I can see, already, that this is going to be stunning!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
scottb
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posted 957 days ago
Very nice… the hard part’s done. Now you have to bring off the page and into the 3d dimension.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Ethan
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751 posts in 1068 days
posted 957 days ago
Chip,
Glad to see someone else who works as slowly as me! ;) I currently have my wood in the rough and will start trimming it to final dimensions and working on the joinery – hopefully I can get that started this week.
-- Ethan, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/
scottb
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3402 posts in 1221 days
posted 957 days ago
Ethan, you and Chip are still ahead of me… but, the past 12 hours have seen a nice new sketch appear on scraps of paper – this one could be “it”.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Chip
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1058 posts in 987 days
posted 957 days ago
Thanks for the comments Deb.
Scott and Ethan – Thanks for looking. The hardest part for me is getting the stuff down on paper. I hate having to back up or make mistakes and waste wood so I really need finished drawings before I start cutting wood. We all have our own approaches. The “road map” is defined so now I just have to stick to the directions… LOL
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
MsDebbieP
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14158 posts in 1055 days
posted 957 days ago
it’s “our own approaches” that make life interesting, isn’t it!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Karson
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posted 957 days ago
Great design Chip. I’m not a judge and I’m not voting on the items that are made. But my original writeup and presentation to Popular Woodworking was “Each individuals interpretation of the Thorsen Greene and Greene Table”
The PW article made some modifications from the original Greene and Greene Plant Stand so I don’t know what their criteria would be. But I said rustic, and said all different kinds and wood choice was was one of the options.
But it all come down to “Make a table that you want!” When it’s all over with, you will still have a piece of furniture.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Bill
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2561 posts in 1056 days
posted 957 days ago
I think it will look great Chip, and still be in context with the Thorsen table. Good luck.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Roger Strautman
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534 posts in 1028 days
posted 956 days ago
I do beleive I read ,carving in there somewhere, I can’t wait!
-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"
Jeff
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996 posts in 988 days
posted 956 days ago
Very elegant, Chip. I can’t wait to see the contrasting woods.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
scottb
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3402 posts in 1221 days
posted 956 days ago
When all is said and done, we’ll have a table that we like AND a free year of Popular Woodworking to read. Maybe I should put a magazine shelf on mine to hold the tangible fruits of my labor!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
MsDebbieP
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14158 posts in 1055 days
posted 956 days ago
hmmm maybe a little shelf JUST for the magazine with the final pix in it.. that would be a nice historic element.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Chip
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1058 posts in 987 days
posted 956 days ago
Thanks everyone for your comments. I’m just looking forward to doing this style of table, getting some new experiences under my belt and experimenting with the curved legs etc. and ending up with a nice piece. The subscription will be great too.
Trying different styles of furniture would make a pretty good annual challege when you think about it. Next time Shaker, then Chippendale, then Art Deco. Learning different things from each influence and reinterpreting it.
I know, I know, let’s just get through this one first. Thanks again for the comments.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
JonH
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55 posts in 981 days
posted 956 days ago
Wow, that looks great Chip. I’m looking forward to pictures of that inlay. I’m noticing that people aren’t using the tag Challenge01 on the Thorsen projects. Do we need to do that to be eligible?
Karson
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posted 956 days ago
You need to do that on the final post of the completed project.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
MsDebbieP
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14158 posts in 1055 days
posted 956 days ago
it has to go on your final project in order for it to be officially part of the challenge.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
oscorner
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posted 955 days ago
Chip, you’ve got a winner! Very nice design.
-- Jesus is Lord!
David
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posted 952 days ago
Chip – great looking design, very crisp and well presented. Of course, walnut & maple! Should be a very beautiful table.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Steffen
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251 posts in 930 days
posted 921 days ago
This should be beautiful when you are finished.
-- Steffen
PanamaJack
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posted 921 days ago
Woodworking art Chip, great start. Aught to be a great finish with the plan you show here.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
woodgrain411
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posted 724 days ago
great designing!
-- I love this site !